Half to frank kertz



(No Model.)

R. G. BOOKSER. TAIL PIECE FOR BANJOS.

N0. 418,364. Patented Dec. 31, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH o. BOOKSER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-4 HALF TO FRANK KERTZ, OF sAME PLAoE.

TAIL-PIECE FOR BANJOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,364, dated December 31, 1889.

Application filed February 23, 1889. Serial No. 300,932. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH O. BooKsER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tail-Pieces for Banios, &c., of which the following is a specificaion. A

This invention relates to a tail-piece for banjos and other stringed instruments, and

has the object to construct a tail-piece to slits.

which the strings can be conveniently and quickly attached, and in which the knots of the strings are at the same time concealed, so as to render the tail-piece more sightly in appearance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a banjo provided withmy improved tail'piece. Fig. 2 1s a top plan view of the tail-piece partly in section,

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in both figures.

A represents the body of the tail-piece, provided at its rear end with the usual perforated shank a' for attaching it to the body of the instrument, and at its front end with a head or raisedtransverse rib b.

0 represents a series of slits formed in the raised rib b, lengthwise of the tail-piece, and which receive the end portions of the strings. These string-slits extend from the top or upper side of the rib 1) into about half the thickness thereof.

d represents a series of recesses or cavities arranged in the rear side of the transverse rib b, in line with the longitudinal string-slits 0, and each communicating with one of said These recesses or cavities are made of sufiicient depth to receive and wholly c011- ceal the knots on the ends of the strings, the knots being confined in the recesses by bearing against the shoulders formed at thejunction of the slits and recesses, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

A string is readily fastened to the tailpiece by inserting the end portion ot the string in one of the slits and then drawing its knot into the recess connected with the slit. As the recesses or cavities d are practically closed on all sides, the knots of the strings are entirely hidden from view, thereby leaving the tail-piece free from unsightly projections and giving the same a neat ap pearance. The recesses (1 also serve to effectually hold the knots of the strings in place and prevent accidental stripping of the strings from the slits.

My improved tail-piece may be construct-ed of celluloid, wood, or other suitable material, and can be produced as cheaply as ordinary tail-pieces.

I am aware that tail-pieces which are provided with. slits for the insertion of the strings and which expose the knots are not new. I am also aware that it is not new to provide a slitted tail-piece at the 'lower ends of the slits With enlarged openings through which the strings pass, and in which the strings are kept out of contact with the edges of the slits while the knots rest against the rear side of the tail-piece and are exposed. I am also aware that. it is notnew to provide a perforated tail-piece with a cover for concealing the knots. All of these constructions are essentially difierent from my construction in which a knot-receiving socket is formed at the lower rear end of each slit and connected with the slit by a shoulder, against which the knot rests, so that the knots are concealed without the employment of a cover, while the strings can be inserted as readily as in an ordinary slitted tail-piece.

I claim as my invention- A tail-piece for stringed instruments, havin g at its front end a raised transverse rib provided with longitudinal slits opening through the top of the rib, and each having at its lower rear end an enlarged recess, in which the knot is concealed and which is connected with the contracted portion of the slit in front- RUDOLPH C. BOOKSER.

WVitnesses:

O. F.- GEYER, FRED. O. GEYEE. 

